Green Team Repair Cafe Returns Saturday, January 31st

Do you have well-loved things around your house that just don’t work but don’t have the heart to throw them away? Before you toss that wonky toaster or lob that flickering lamp, bring it to Rutherford’s next Repair Cafe!

The Rutherford Green Team will hold its 14th  Repair Cafe on Saturday, January 31,  from 11:30am - 3:30 pm in the basement of the Rutherford Public Library at 150 Park Avenue, Rutherford. Please go to the back of the library and enter through the rear courtyard. Last entry at 3:00.

At a repair café, area residents bring in non-functioning or damaged items to expert volunteers who try to fix them for free.  While waiting, participants can enjoy coffee (courtesy of The Rutherford Coffee Company), tea, and a home-baked snack or try their hand at making crafts out of trash and recyclables. This is a drop-in event where people are helped on a first-come, first-served basis and are encouraged to learn how to fix things themselves while reducing waste.  Volunteers will have the necessary tools and may have some spare parts available for a nominal fee, but participants are encouraged to obtain the necessary parts beforehand: for example new batteries, bicycle tubes, or lamp switches.

January’s repair café will have the following stations:  bicycles, jewelry, small appliances, computers and electronics, lamps, furniture and wooden items, clothing, leather items, sewing machines, and knife sharpening. We will also do cell phone troubleshooting (no screen replacements).

We will be repairing clothing and knitted items using traditional mending as well as visible mending, which is a creative, decorative approach to repair. Those with knitted items should try to bring the appropriate yarn. All clothing must be clean.

Participants are limited to one item (or two knives) at a time. Participants with multiple items must go back to the end of the line after having their first item fixed. Important: check the Rutherford Repair Café Facebook page or the Rutherford Borough website closer to the event to find out about any last-minute changes in what services will be offered. Or follow Rutherford Repair Cafe on Instagram!